Houston stop allows Manchester United to visit fans

Man U has incentives to hit roadHouston stop part of tour that lets English team reach loyal fans

JOSE DE JESUS ORTIZ, Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle

Published 5:30 am, Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Photo: Julio Cortez, Chronicle

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MLS commissioner Don Garber, left, and Manchester United's Richard Arnold anticipate an enthusiastic welcome for the game matching the MLS All-Stars and one of England's storied teams.

MLS commissioner Don Garber, left, and Manchester United's Richard Arnold anticipate an enthusiastic welcome for the game matching the MLS All-Stars and one of England's storied teams.

Photo: Julio Cortez, Chronicle

Houston stop allows Manchester United to visit fans

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With around 9 million fans in North America among its estimated 333 million fans worldwide, English Premier League giant Manchester United is eager to return to the United States for the first time since 2004.

Home to owner Malcolm Glazer and major sponsors, the United States has long been an important market for Manchester United.

The Red Devils are eager to visit Houston when they conclude their U.S. tour by playing the MLS All-Stars on July 28 at Reliant Stadium.

“I think it's going to be a knowledgeable and passionate crowd,” Manchester United commercial director Richard Arnold said Tuesday. “And that, together with the team picked for the MLS All-Stars, (means) it's going to be a great game. Manchester United plays the games more than anything to win. I'm sure the MLS All-Stars will be the same, so it should be a fantastic spectacle.”

Top Manchester United officials discussed their tour on Tuesday in New York and Houston. Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary coach of the Red Devils since 1986, appeared in New York. Arnold was at the Houston news conference along with Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber.

“I can guarantee that the people here in Houston will show you some great southern hospitality and get Sir Alex to wear a cowboy hat at the game and maybe not stand on the sideline in a suit,” Garber said. “We're going to get him in a denim shirt and some cowboy boots on the sideline.”

Because of the World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 11, Manchester United will be without star Wayne Rooney and other players who are set to play in the World Cup during the tour that begins July 16 in Toronto.

New signee Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, the 21-year-old Mexican national team phenom, might be in training with Manchester United and fighting to prove himself with his new team in time for the MLS All-Star Game.

“It's been fantastic for us,” Arnold said of the excitement generated by Hernandez's signing. “We're excited to have him. He's a very talented player. We're looking forward to melding him into the squad.”

Whether Hernandez plays or not, Garber promises a good game in Houston.

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“We're trying to say to the rest of the world, ‘Hey we're not yet the Premier League, we're not yet La Liga, we're not yet Serie A, but every now and again we can come together and stand toe to toe against the best clubs in the world,' ” Garber said. “We did it and beat Chivas. … We did beat Chelsea. We're hopefully going to have a good game against Manchester United.”